A modular jack for telephone and data equipment test access ports including a cover having substantially the same thermal coefficient of expansion as its housing, and which is integral with the housing to prevent its being lost during usage or testing. The cover extends inwardly of the housing, to rotate further inwardly, automatically, upon the insertion of the plug into the housing to complete the electrical circuit.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A modular jack for telephone and data equipment test access ports sited in an outdoors environment comprising: a housing exposed to dust, humidity, precipitation and temperature variations in said outdoors environment; a plurality of contact wires within said housing at said outdoors site for completing an electrical circuit at an equipment test access port when receiving a test plug inserted through an opening therein; and a cover for scaling said test access port against the entry of dust, humidity and precipitation when said plug is not inserted; with said cover being fabricated as an integral part of said housing and of a material having substantially the same thermal coefficient of expansion as said housing so as to continue to seal said test access port against dust, humidity and precipitation in the presence of temperature variation at said site; a hinge joining said cover and said housing together; wherein said cover extends inwardly of said opening about said hinge in sealing said opening when said plug is not inserted; wherein said hinge is coupled to said housing at a point to rotate said cover further inwardly of said opening when said cover is automatically lifted by the insertion of said plug into said opening; and including a rib on an inside of said housing to serve as a stop in setting a quiescent position for said cover when said plug is not inserted.
2. The modular jack of claim 1 wherein said rib is positioned in said housing for defining a fully inserted position for said plug when inserted into said opening.
3. A modular jack test access port for telephone and data equipment sited in an outdoors environment, and of a type incorporating a plurality of contact wires for completing an electrical circuit when receiving a test plug inserted into said jack, said jack comprising: a housing exposed to dust, humidity, precipitation and temperature variations in said outdoors environment; a plurality of contact wires within said housing at said outdoors site for completing an electrical circuit when receiving a test plug inserted through an opening in said housing to access said equipment; a cover for sealing said opening and said test access port against the entry of dust, humidity and precipitation when said plug is not inserted; and a hinge joining said cover and said housing together as a one-piece construction of said modular jack; and with said cover being of a material having substantially the same thermal coefficient of expansion as said housing, so as to continue to seal said modular jack test access port against dust, humidity and precipitation in the presence of temperature variation at said site in the absence of said test plug; wherein said cover extends inwardly of said opening about said hinge in sealing said opening when said plug is not inserted; wherein said hinge is coupled to said housing at a point to rotate said cover further inwardly of said opening when said cover is automatically lifted by the insertion of said plug into said housing; and including a rib on an inside of said housing to serve as a stop in setting a quiescent position for said cover when said plug is not inserted.
4. The modular jack of claim 3 wherein said rib is positioned in said housing for defining a fully inserted position for said plug when inserted into said opening.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 9, 1999
September 18, 2001
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